Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

November 2023

• ISBN: 9780008475543
• ISBN 10: 0008475547
• Imprint: HarperCollins GB
• RRP: $19.99

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Eoin (well, me at least) but this one was definitely worth a wait. I absolutely think it’s one of the most original Christmas MG novels I’ve ever read, and I loved every word of it.

It encapsulates so much about contemporary life, yet ties to tradition, and in true Colfer fashion blends the fairytale with science/technology resulting in the most utterly plausible fantasy possible.

When Juniper was still a baby, Santa Claus disappeared. He just stopped doing his annual delivery and hasn’t been seen since, despite intensive scrutiny and tracking by his head elf/chief engineer, Tomescu, and his team.

Juniper Lane has been raised with love in the grounds of Cedar Park, where her late father was a valued warden, and more than that, a valiant friend to the homeless and community.

Now Juniper and her mum are left without Briar but they are just beginning to recover some semblance of normal life, when mum, Jennifer, goes missing. Their dear friend and ‘neighbour’, Duchess, has stayed with Juniper, but neither has any idea where Jennifer could be.

The mysterious ‘helper/woodsman’ Niko, who has been making life more comfortable for those who find refuge in the park is reluctantly dragged into the sphere of Juniper, and her dogged search for her mum. His affection for Duchess, is a quandary for him as he misses his late wife so very much, but he cannot help himself. It’s in his nature to help and to give. You can easily guess why that is so.

Let’s throw into this mix, a conniving and bitter Head of Parks who is out to make a name for himself, a local gang boss (who is very like the Mama in the Goonies) with a similarly klutzy offspring, an up-and-coming magical reindeer named Skära who has an intuitive connection to Juniper, a bunch of elves led by Tomescu, who could easily work for MI5, and a race against time to save a dear friend, as well as Christmas.

What’s not to love about this? It is full of warmth and love, adventure and humour, fantasy and drama and most of all, the true meaning of Christmas – no matter your beliefs or take on it.

I gobbled this up so quickly because it was just pure joy to read. The occasional illustrations will definitely add to it’s charm for your MG readers and, I have no doubt, they will sing its praises and do the book-talking for you. I cannot recommend this more highly to you. It’s a (Christmas) cracker of a book and your discerning kiddos from around Year 4 upwards will love it.